Remotely controlled photographic apparatus movable along a track



Sept. 26, 1950 M. o. MILLER REMOTELY CONTROLLED PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS MOVABLE ALONG A TRACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 31, 1946 MAX 0. MJILLQZZ ATTORNE Y M. o. MILL 2,523,662 REMOTELY CONTROLLED PHOTO PHIC APPARATUS MOVABLE ALONG A TRACK Sept. 26, 1950 Filed May 51, 1946 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MAX 0 .-M1LLER,'

//v vs N TOR n TTORNEX Patented Sept. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REMOTELY CONTROLLED PHOTOGRAPH! APPARATUS MOVABLE ALONG A TRACK Max 0. Miller, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Motoview, Inc., Carson City, Nev., a corporation 5 Claims. 1

The invention relates to photographic apparatus whereby an operator may propel a motion picture camera distantly, and control the travel and the starting and stoppin of the camera while it is at distance from the operator. The invention is particularly useful for detecting fouls of jockeys, as the invention provides a camera and its dolly, free from an operator at the camera, whereby the camera and its dolly can be small enough to be located adjacent and above the inside rail where the horses and jockeys on the track can be viewed from a nearby elevated position, without the likelihood of being in the field of view of either the jockeys or the horses.

This application is drawn to the same general subject matter as applicants Serial Number 421,198 filed December 1, 1941 and abandoned prior to the filing of this application.

The control station for the operator is relatively fixed with respect to the track, and it is located preferably near the finish line and in an elevated position so the operator can view the race as it proceeds around the track and operate his controls accordingly. Some races start at different positions on the track. The invention provides a. reversible drive for the camera dolly, so that after the camera is loaded with film at the control station, it can be propelled either clockwise or counterclockwise along the track, Whichever is shorter, to the start line. The invention also provides for starting and stopping the camera by the operator at the control station, while the camera is propelled remotely from him along the track. Hence the operator can propel the camera to a remote point on the track, with the camera idle, and from his control station start the remote camera into operation when the race starts at the remote point, and also stop it when desired.

According to another feature of the invention, the race is preferably photographed from a plurality of different angles of view and the adja-' ahead or slightly behind in position, the pack or v the race will be photographed along one angle of view or another. The invention provides an improved camera making it possible to photo- 2 graph a plurality of angles of view on the same film, which simplifies the loading and unloading of the camera. For example, one angle of view may be photographed on alternate frames and another angle of view on the remaining alternate frames. Each of the two series of motion pictures thus photographed is printed onto a separate positive film and the two series of pictures may be projected side by side on a screen, whereupon the race is shown on the screen from two different view points.

For further details of the invention reference may be made to the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view looking across the track from an elevated position at the outside rail, the View showing photographic apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a race track provided with the improved photographic apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of circuits for controlling the camera and dolly of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the film path for the camera of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the twin projector for projecting the films printed from the negative photographed by the camera of Figs. 1 and 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Fig.2,

each having a cross arm 5 to support a dolly track having rails 6 and I which extend around the race track. On the rails 6 and I ride the wheels such as 8 and 9 of a dolly ID on which is suspended a motion picture camera H with its motor I! indicated in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, and a motor III for propelling the dolly I 0 in one direction or the other along the track 6, 'l. The dolly I0 has a suspended platform It below the rails 6, I, the camera II with its motor l2 and the dolly motor l3 being suitably supported on the platform 14.

The camera motor l2, dolly motor I3 and a suitable magnetic brake l5 are controlled over circuits which extend along the race track i and along the dolly track 6, I, these circuits comprising in part the dolly rails 6 and I, a trolley wire l6 underneath rail 6 and a trolley wire I! underneath rail 1. The circuits provided by the rails 6 and 1 and the trolley wires I6 and I! are led into the electric devices on the dolly I0, by wheel 8 and brush l8 for rail 6, by trolley IS for trolley wire l8, and brush 28 and wheel 21 for rail 1, and by trolley 22 for trolley wire H.

The rail 8 and trolley wire I8 form part of one circuit, while the rail I and trolley wire |1 form part of another circuit, and these two circuits are suitably insulated from each otherat the dolly by avoiding a direct metallic connection between the wheels of each pair. For examp wheel 8 is insulated from its companion wheel 28 by an insulating sleeve indicated at 24 in the axle of these wheels, and insulating material is employed either for platform H or for its posts such as 28. A similar insulating sleeve 28 is provided in the axle of wheels 8 and 2|.

Electrical connections from the rails 8 and 1 and from the trolley wire I8 and I1 are taken through a cable indicated by the dotted line 21 to a control station 28 which is relatively fixed with respect to the race track I and arranged adjacent or in view of the finish line indicated at 28. At the station 28 the operator may remain on an elevated platform 88 using field glasses to follow the race as it proceeds around the track I. On the platform 88 are provided a number of control handles 8| to 84 so that the various elements on the dolly I8 may be controlled while the dolly is traveling remotely from the operator at station 28. Station 28 is arranged close to the rails 8, 1 so the operator on the platform 88 may remove or put in place the film can 38, to unload or load the camera II and to inspect or repair the various parts on the dolly I8.

As shown in Fig. 3, at the control station 28 or at some suitable point the following are connected across rail 8 and trolley wire I8; a source 88 of alternating current power of the usual commercial frequency such as 50 or 60 cycles, a source 81 of control high frequency such as 15,000 cycles, a second source 88 of -a different control high frequency such as 20,000 cycles, and a third source 88 of a still different high frequency such as 25,000 cycles. The sources 81, 88 and 89 comprise a multiplex supply and each source is connected across the lines 8, l8 through a circuit such as 4| tuned to its frequency. Each control frequency from the sources 81, 88 and 39 finds a high impedance in the secondary of the power transformer 42 and in the supply circuits such as 4|, of the other control frequencies.

Camera motor I2 has a switch 43 held open by a spring 44 and adapted to be closed by current in a tuned solenoid circuit 45 tuned to current from one of the multiplex sources such as 81. The solenoid circuit 45 is connected through trolley I8 to wire l8 and through brush I8 to rail 8. When switch 8| is closed, switch 43 is operated against the tension of spring 44 to connect camera motor I2 to source 88 over a circuit including trolley I9, wire l8, also brush I8 and rail 8, to start and run the camera When switch 8| is moved to open position, spning 44 opens switch 48 to stop camera I The brake may be operated with A. C. from source 88 under control of a switch 48, similar to switch 48, controlled by a tuned operating circuit 41 connected to trolley l8 and brush I8 and tuned to the frequency of another source such as 88. When switch 82 is closed, switch 48 is operated to connect brake l5, which has a high impedance to all of the multiplex frequencies, to the A. C. power'source 88 through brush I8 and trolley I8. When switch 82 is opened, spring 48 opens switch 48 to render brake |5 idle.

Dolly motor I8 is a D. C. motor and is reversible, having an armature 48 connected over brush 28 to rail 1 and over trolley 22 to trolley wire |1. Connected across rail 1 and wire I1 is a D. C. source 88 having a suitable rheostat or controller 84 at station 28. Motor l8 has a field windlns 8i connected through a reversing switch 82 to the trolley 22 and brush 28. Switch 82 is biased to one position by spring 88 and is operated to its alternate position by current in tuned operating circuit 84 connected through trolley l8 and brush i8 across rail 8 and line i8, and circuit 84 is tuned to the frequency of source 88. When switch 88 is closed, current from source 88 operates switch 82 to reverse dolly motor l8.

As the switches or controllers 8| to 84 are located at the relatively fixed control statlon 28 as shown in Fig. l, the operator may remain at this station and control the direction, speed and braking of the dolly l8 and also start or stop the camera II at any point in its travel around the race track To obtain a wide field of view of the race, and to compensate for a discrepancy between the position of the camera II and the position of the race, the camera Is preferably provided with two film gates 88 and 88 having diverging angles of view, with preferably directed mainly along the course and 88 directed mainly across the course, and over lapping fields of view. In Fig. 2, the optical axis of 88 is indicated at 81, the axis of 58 is indicated at 88, the margins of 88 are indicated at 88 and 88, and the margins of 88 at 8| and 82, with margins 88 and 82 merging or over lapping. Assuming that the race is proceeding clockwise around the race track i, if the camera lags behind so that the pack or principal part of the race is not in the field of view 8|, 82, it will be in the field of view 88, 88, or part of the race may be in one and part in the other.

The film 88 is fed through both gates 88 and 58 and is pulled down simultaneously by suitable claws 84, 88 two frames at a time to expose alternate frames such as the odd numbered frames in one of the gates such as 88, and at the same time expose the other alternate or even numbered frames in the other gate 88.

When the race is over, the operator returns the dolly I8 to a position adjacent platform 88 where he removes the film can 88 and replaces it with a fresh one. The film 88 is developed and the odd numbered frames are printed in consecutive frames on one positive film in a step printer, and the other series of frames are similarly printed onto another positive film. The two positives thus produced are indicated at 88 and 81 in Fig. 5 and they may be projected by projectors 88 and 88 onto a screen 18 where the two motion pictures 1| and 12 appear side by side and show the race from two view points.

It will be apparent that various modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit of the following claims. For example the camera and motor may be reversed in position, with the camera. shifted in position so that axis 88 will extend down the track to the left as seen in Fig. 2, with axis 81 extending across the track. Also wires I8 and I1 may be on the same side of the dolly track. and the multiplex tuned circuits 48, 41 and 84 may each operate a relay which operates a solenoid for its switch. Also two single cameras instead of the double camera II may be used. or a single usual motion picture camera may be employed. Also the camera may take pictures in black and white or color.

I claim:

1. A track, a dolly movable along said track, a relatively fixed control station, a camera on said dolly, a control circuit along said track, a power circuit along said track, a switch on said dolly for controlling connection of said camera to said power circuit, means on said dolly for operating said switch with current from said control circuit, and means at said station for operating said control circuit to operate said switch.

2. The combination of an levated track along a race course, a relatively fixed control station, a carriage movable on said track to and from said station above the level of said race course, a motion picture camera on said carriage, said camera having film traversing means, a motor on said carriage for operating said film traversing means, a reversible motor on said carriage and having a driving connection with said carriage, a circuit along said track for each of said motors and control means at said station for controlling each of said circuits.

3. The combination of an elevated track, means at one side of a race course for supporting said track above said race course, a camera dolly movable along said track, a camera on said dolly, said camera having film traversing means, a motor for said film traversing means, an electric motor on said dolly for propelling said dolly, a reversing device on said dolly for reversing the travel of said dolly, a relatively fixed control station elevated with respect to said race course and from which the race may be seen, means at said station for controlling said device, and means at said station for starting and stopping said film traversing motor.

4. The combination of an elevated narrow track, posts adjacent one side of a race course for supporting said track above and adjacent the race course, a camera dolly movable along said track above and adjacent said race course, a motion picture camera, means supporting said camera on said dolly in position to photograph contestants of a race on said race course from a position above and adjacent said race course, a motor on said dolly for driving said dolly, a brake for said dolly, said camera dolly being too small to accommodate an operator, means for supplying direct current along said track, means for supplying alternating current along said track, remote control means for operating said motor with one of said currents, remote control means for operating said brake with the other of said currents, and means for operating said camera while propelled by said dolly.

5. The combination of .a track for a race course, a camera dolly movable along said track, a motion picture camera, means supporting said camera on said dolly in position to photograph contestants of a race on said race course from a position above and adjacent said race course, a motor for operating said camera, a motor on said dolly for driving said dolly, a brake for said dolly, means for supplying direct current along said track, means for supplying alternating current along said track, remote control means for operating said dolly motor with one of said currents, remote control means for operating said brake with the other of said currents, and remote control means for operating said camera motor with one of said currents while propelled by said dolly, and a control station having a switch for each of said remote control means.

MAX 0. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 621,314 Barber Mar. 21, 1899 1,163,549 Leonard Dec. 7, 1915 1,185,842 Sessions June 6, 1916 1,294,686 McCormick Feb. 18, 1919 1,351,502 Ball Aug. 31, 1920 1,615,283 Kelley et a1 Jan. 25, 1927 1,907,973 Johnston May 9, 1933 2,016,937 Barnes Oct. 8, 1935 2,031,605 Jenkins et al. Feb. 25, 1936 2,073,443 Cardoza Mar. 9, 1937 2,077,104 Geib Apr. 13, 1937 2,196,319 McLoughlin Apr. 9, 1940 2,254,489 Morton Sept. 2, 1941 2,348,841 Oswald May 16, 1944 2,382,616 Riccio Aug. 14, 1945 2,408,528 Nassour Oct. 1, 1946 

